Member Profile – Jill Quigley
Where she’s from
Jill grew up in the small central Missouri town of Versailles. Her mother’s 10 siblings made for a large extended family. Family gatherings were a major event!
About her family
Jill is a retired clinical nurse specialist who worked with patients learning to live with a chronic disease. She and her husband, a retired pathologist, have lived in Lenexa for over 30 years. They have three children and two grandchildren. One son lives in Chicago, Illinois, another in Venice Beach, California, and her daughter lives in Golden, Colorado.
Why she joined the League
Jill served as a Kansas state representative for three years (2008-2010) from District 17 (Shawnee and Lenexa) in Johnson County. When a Voter ID requirement was being considered, she reached out to the LWVJoCo for information. She was so impressed at how ably member Janice McMillan answered her questions that she joined the League when her term ended. She notes that, as a former legislator, she was interested in working with women committed to non-partisan policies and improving the electoral system.
What she thinks the League does well
In addition to voter registration, Jill feels that League studies are critical to maintaining the respect League has in the community. Careful and thorough League studies result in the LWVJoCo taking a position, lobbying effectively, and impacting public policy. League’s Housing Study conducted in 2019 is a good example. She also appreciates observer reports on city council and county commission meetings that keep League members better informed on the local issues often overlooked in a statewide and national focus.
Where she would like to see the League focus in the future
Hiring an administrative assistant for LWVJoCo would, in Jill’s opinion, strengthen the organization. A central point of information and coordination would help volunteers as well as assure a smooth transition between old and new leadership teams.
What she does to strengthen our democracy
Jill coordinates LWVJoCo’s participation in the Mainstream Coalition Voter to Voter effort. Through that program individual members encourage friends and acquaintances to vote using “relational organizing.” This is the third year for a LWVJoCo team and it’s a big year in terms of reaching out to new and uninvolved voters in our area. This year Voter to Voter has 300 teams across the state with 1,245 Ambassadors. All told there are seven League teams—Manhattan, Leavenworth, Lawrence, Emporia, Topeka, Johnson/Wyandotte County and a state team. Jill urges Leaguers to contact her to sign up to be an Ambassador. All you need to do is identify 10 friends and encourage them to VOTE!
Fun Fact
Jill was born in a nursing home. In her small rural hometown, the town’s general practitioner delivered babies in the only facility available, a local boarding/nursing home!
How she’s coping with the pandemic
Jill’s plan to clean out all her closets took only two months. Now she occupies herself with cooking, reading and Zooming.